Vetnuus | May 2026 19 Article to respond to a major outbreak motivated them to leave the emergency response network: “I didn’t want to continue working full time and having to do that… I think, the constant pressure knowing that…we’re getting more of these outbreaks and it’s just a matter of time before we get ‘the big one.’” (— Janet, veterinarian) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Those directly involved in depopulation reported experiencing PTSD symptoms including vivid flashbacks of the event, nightmares, increased alcohol consumption, difficulty concentrating, guilt, and fear about when another outbreak might start. One participant described,“I’ve never been through something like that before. And so, when you start crying in the swimming pool, and you’re like, okay, am I losing it?” (Janet, veterinarian). Several warned that participating in multiple depopulation events in close succession was risky to their mental health. One participant explained, “We were really short staff last summer dealing with [disease]. And I got to the edge of what I was able to do” (Dorothy, veterinarian). Others described how their familiarity with a farmer and their animals increased their symptoms. One veterinarian stated, “I still lose sleep over those cases in [location]. I knew those producers” (Chris, veterinarian). Most stressed the need for preparing veterinarians and their staff for what they might see during a depopulation, so they could mentally prepare themselves. One veterinarian explained, “[Y]ou need to have discussions with people before they do these things so that they’re prepared for what they’re going to see. I mean, you can’t unsee, unsmell, and unhear those things… I was diagnosed with PTSD from what happened.” (— Alex, veterinarian) Depopulation emergency-management framework Using data from our study, we adapted the emergency management framework (24,25) to illustrate ways of minimizing mental health threats for veterinarians involved in depopulation (Figure 1). This framework is a continuous 4-phase cycle: prevention, preparation, response, and recovery. A comprehensive list of potential activities for each phase is shown in Table 1. To review briefly, in the prevention phase, activities include familiarizing veterinarians with biosecurity measures so they can communicate these to their farmer clients and reinforce why they are important, and enhancing mental health literacy through veterinary college curricula and professional education. In the preparation phase, proactive depopulation training, protocol reviews, and discussions with staff are essential. Building a network of mentally prepared veterinarians may prevent adverse mental health outcomes from repeated depopulation events. During the response phase, effective crisis management should involve continuous communication with CFIA, industry representatives, and the farmer, alongside support from an industry liaison or crisis support worker familiar with agriculture. In the recovery phase, reviewing policies and protocols, encouraging counselling, and conducting staff debriefs are crucial. The debriefs should focus on what went well, challenges faced, and process improvements. This framework aims to support veterinarians through every stage, ultimately enhancing their resilience and capacity to manage the emotional and psychological demands of their work. DISCUSSION Our study provided insights about the ways depopulation can negatively affect the mental health of veterinarians. We also learned how veterinarians fulfilled different roles in depopulation events that influenced their experiences in different ways. Some operated outside the depopulation process, offering continuous emotional and informational support to their farmer clients. They noted their farmer clients preferred confiding in them due to established trust developed over years of service, consistent with previous research that farmers relied on veterinarians during crises (12,26). Veterinarians who operated within the depopulation process and carried out the orders were sympathetic to the farmers but felt they needed to focus on regulatory compliance and safety protocols. Veterinarians commonly experienced moral distress when tasked with euthanizing entire herds or flocks. This aligned with previous research Phase Activities Prevention • Familiarize veterinarians with biosecurity measures so they can communicate these with their clients and reinforce the importance of incorporating these measures into their operations. • Integrate mental health literacy content into veterinary college curricula and ongoing professional development training opportunities. Preparation • Provide mental health training to the emergency response team to ensure they: — are familiar with mental health warning signs. — feel confident and comfortable discussing mental health issues. — are familiar with stress-management strategies. — have resources such as counselors or crisis hotlines to contact. • Provide an overview of the depopulation process to ensure staff have a realistic preview of what to expect (e.g., integrate guest speakers). • Prepare and/or review a crisis tool kit, which is a booklet containing species-specific disease information, timelines, protocols, and tips for supporting crisis-response teams and the farmer during a depopulation event. • Review the depopulation process to identify and minimize potential mental health triggers. • Identify crisis counsellors and therapists in the region who can accept new clients on short notice. • Create a resource sheet that can be shared and provides a list of available counsellors and therapists in the area, as well as crisis hotline numbers. Response • Use the crisis-response tool kit to guide conversations with veterinarians, farmers, and staff. • Include an industry liaison to support the farmer and ensure they have access to a counselor for their mental health needs. • Ensure that breaks are scheduled during the euthanasia process for staff to rest, evaluate, and change their roles; and provide an opportunity to debrief at the end of the day to discuss goals and the process and check on each other’s well-being. Recovery • Conduct a debriefing session with staff to review what went well, what challenges were faced, and how the process could be improved. This session could be led by a staff supervisor or an external facilitator. • Encourage staff to participate in counseling. • Review protocols and policies and make recommendations for improvement. Table 1. Activities to support depopulation risk management for veterinarians
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